The Aldi of the Internet

Posted on 2017-02-27

Zoho is a online services company that I use for email and a few other things. I am running the scouting group I'm starting on it. As far as I can see, they have a Zoho-branded product for nearly any online service. Sick of Dropbox? Then use Zoho Docs (yes it does sync, and it supports Linux). Don't feel like paying for Basecamp, then try Zoho Projects. They have help desk software, note taking apps, CRM systems, payments, password management, and even marketing tools.

It's weird in that it feels like the Aldi approach. Only, in this case, Zoho is actually building the software instead of hiring another company to do it. But It's the private label aspect. I find the idea interesting and even more interesting that you never hear about them, but they clearly are making enough money to fund more projects.

A part of me wishes they would update their logo though. It's so... chintzy. Most of their older product logos are bad semi-photo-realistic icons for the product. More recently, they've been trying to fit a modern design aesthetic. I'm seeing simplified icons and flat styles. Their marketing sites have really cleaned up as well.

Anyways. I'm not voicing much of an opinion here. Just mentioning what I see. I like their products well enough that I'm willing to pay for them.